Goodrich- For more than a century it was home to the Goodrich Hotel. Then home to the Goodrich Apartments. Now the small Hegel Road parcel in the heart of the downtown area may be property of the village.
The village council is expected to decide next month to purchase a foreclosed parcel near Clarence and Hegel roads, about a half block north of the Atlas Township Fire Station for $15,786.58. The cost is comprised of past due taxes, sewer fees and demolition. In October 2012 demolition crews from Ortonville-based Bedrock Express razed the century-and-a-half-old structure in downtown Goodrich.
The village, which has the first right of refusal, has until July 12 to decide on the parcel. After that date the public will have an opportunity to bid on its purchase.
Village Councilmember Rick Horton made several suggestions regarding the property at the Monday night meeting.
‘We should at least take a look at the property,? said Horton. ‘Maybe that would be a good place for a gazebo or fountain in the downtown area.?
A local real estate business owner said to consider several options before the purchase.
‘There’s advantages to both,? said Jeff Dawley, owner of Atlas Real Estate, 8491 State Road, Goodrich. ‘We have available properties downtown right now’there’s charm to the village area. But in reality, the cost to build commercial is very high. What a buyer of commercial property would have to invest including engineering and design may be very difficult to do. And based on the market conditions, I don’t think we know how feasible that would be.?
‘Still, I’d love to see that property back on the taxrolls’that would be a big step to enhance the downtown,? he added. ‘The economy is on the up-tick and perhaps it’s going to continue the climb. The property has some value’but I’m not sure it’s a viable commodity. There are pre-existing buildings on M-15 right now that have 11,000 cars per day traveling by.?